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Ronnie O'Sullivan at centre of another World Championship controversy

Ronnie O'Sullivan during his quarter final match against Stuart Bingham at the World Snooker Championship
Image: Ronnie O'Sullivan was involved in another controversial moment during his quarter-final match against Stuart Bingham at the World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan found himself at the centre of another controversy at the Betfred World Championship during the first session of his quarter-final against Stuart Bingham.

Five-time champion O'Sullivan had just reeled off a second century break to level at 2-2 before causing a stir when he placed his chalk on the baize while lining up a shot.

It is a move which is deemed against competition rules if any object is used to measure gaps or distances, and therefore subject to a foul with a seven-point deduction.

But referee Terry Camilleri failed to call the penalty and Bingham did not raise the matter either, with O'Sullivan going on to complete his 87 break and take the frame.

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O’Sullivan earlier in the tournament had played some of a frame in his socks and was then warned about his behaviour following a hand gesture in the second-round match against Matthew Stevens.

It is not yet known if World Snooker will review the incident.

Bingham, though, did not let the issue unsettle him, as he won the remaining three frames to take a 5-3 lead, with the match set to resume on Wednesday afternoon.

Elsewhere, Judd Trump was in fine form as he dominated his quarter-final against Ding Junhui to take a 12-4 lead.

The 25-year-old world No 6, who had defeated O'Sullivan at the World Grand Prix final, never looked back after storming into a 4-0 lead on Tuesday's early session, which he extended following a break of 108.

Ding finally got off the mark when he won back-to-back frames to trail 6-2 at the end of the afternoon.

But that mini-revival was soon halted on the resumption following another century from the Bristol man, who was runner-up to John Higgins in the 2011 World Championship final.

Trump chalked up a blistering 127 break before wrapping up the evening session with another century to stand one frame away from a place in the semi-finals again when play continues on Wednesday morning.

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